Some activities are simply better with company. Whether you’re looking to split costs, increase safety, or just have someone to high-five at the finish line, adventure activities with travel buddies create memories that solo experiences can’t match.
Water adventures
Scuba diving
Diving is inherently social — you literally need a buddy for safety. But beyond the practical requirement, sharing underwater discoveries makes the experience far more rewarding. Pointing out a hidden octopus to your partner or surfacing together after spotting a manta ray builds a bond fast.
The diving community is very welcoming to solo travelers. Most dive shops and liveaboard boats pair solo divers together, creating what one Redditor called “forced friendship.” Liveaboards in particular, where you eat, sleep, and dive with the same 12-20 people for a week, are the best social diving setup you can find.
Top destinations: Koh Tao (Thailand) for certification, Nusa Penida (Bali) for manta rays, the Red Sea for affordable liveaboards, and Tulamben (Bali) for the USAT Liberty Shipwreck.
Surfing
Surfing culture thrives on community. The experienced consensus? Don’t wait for a friend to learn. Go alone and find your tribe in the water. Surf camps provide instant social structures, and hostels in surf towns are filled with people whose schedules revolve around wave conditions.
For beginners, staying at a surf camp for the first few days builds skills and friendships at the same time. Then you can transition to independent accommodation while keeping the connections you’ve made.
Top destinations: Canggu (Bali) for the social scene, Santa Teresa (Costa Rica) for the digital nomad surf crowd, and Sri Lanka’s southern coast for uncrowded waves.
Kayaking and white-water rafting
Few activities bond people faster than navigating rapids together. The combination of teamwork, shared adrenaline, and inevitable splashing brings people together quickly. Multi-day river trips amplify this: camping riverside with your rafting crew after a day of paddling is hard to top.
Top destinations: the Pacuare River (Costa Rica), the Zambezi River (Zambia), and the Futaleufu River (Chile).
Mountain adventures
Day hiking
Day hikes are the perfect low-commitment way to test compatibility with new travel buddies. You can assess pace, conversation style, and shared interests without the pressure of a multi-day commitment. Hostels are the best resource: just ask in the common room “Anyone want to hike [trail name] tomorrow?” and you’ll usually find takers.
For more structured options, joining hiking Meetup groups or day tours through Airbnb Experiences guarantees company without requiring advance planning.
Multi-day trekking
Epic treks like the Inca Trail, Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, and the Torres del Paine W Trek are transformative group experiences. On popular routes, “solo” is essentially a myth. You’ll be walking alongside the same people for days, sharing meals, and naturally forming what long-distance hikers call a “tramily” (trail family).
For the Inca Trail and Kilimanjaro, guides are required, so you’ll always be in a group setting. Experienced trekkers recommend booking a local guided group upon arrival rather than expensive international packages. You’ll pay significantly less and have a more authentic experience.
The Lemosho Route on Kilimanjaro is ideal for solo travelers because the longer duration (7-8 days) allows groups to bond more deeply than shorter routes.
Rock climbing
Climbing gyms are repeatedly cited as the easiest place to find outdoor partners organically. The downtime between climbs naturally encourages conversation, and the belaying relationship requires trust that builds quickly. Many lifelong climbing partnerships begin at the gym.
For travelers, destination climbing gyms (like Basecamp in Queenstown) work as community hubs where locals and visitors mix freely.
Adrenaline activities
Bungee jumping, skydiving, and paragliding
High-adrenaline activities bond people through shared fear and triumph. Watching your new friend jump before you, then celebrating together afterward, compresses weeks of normal friendship development into minutes.
These activities typically operate through established companies with scheduled departure times, making it easy to meet fellow thrill-seekers. Queenstown (New Zealand), the self-proclaimed “adventure capital of the world,” has all three in a single compact area with highly social operator scenes.
Canyoning (waterfall rappelling)
Canyoning combines hiking, swimming, rappelling, and cliff jumping into a single adventure. The group format (typically 6-12 people with guides) means you’re working together to navigate the canyon. La Fortuna (Costa Rica) is famous for this, and travelers frequently recommend it as a mood-booster for solo travelers seeking both adventure and connection.
Wildlife experiences
Safaris
Safari vehicles create intimate shared experiences. Spending hours together scanning the savanna for wildlife, then collectively gasping when a lion appears, builds bonds quickly. Group camping safaris amplify the effect: sharing campfire stories after a day of game drives is a distinctly African adventure experience.
Top destinations: Tanzania’s Serengeti, Kenya’s Masai Mara, and South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Jungle treks
Multi-day jungle treks, whether in Borneo searching for orangutans, in the Amazon looking for wildlife, or in Guatemala hiking to remote Mayan ruins, naturally group travelers together. The shared challenges of heat, humidity, and insects create a camaraderie that air-conditioned bus tours can’t match.
Multi-day adventures
The Camino de Santiago
The Camino is legendary for its social atmosphere. Even starting completely solo, you’ll naturally form connections by walking at the same pace as others. The shared pilgrim experience (albergue stays, communal dinners, daily walking conversations) creates deep friendships that span continents.
Motorbike loops
The Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam is repeatedly mentioned as a legendary bonding experience. Small groups form naturally at hostels before departure, and riding through mountain scenery together creates stories you’ll tell for years. Similar experiences exist in Thailand (Mae Hong Son Loop) and Indonesia.
Coordinating group activities
Once you’ve found adventure companions, coordination is key. Create a shared WhatsApp group for real-time communication. Discuss expectations around:
- Pace and fitness: be honest about your level to avoid frustration
- Budget: agree on spending limits for gear, guides, and accommodation
- Risk tolerance: some people push limits; others prefer caution
- Photography stops: will you wait for sunset shots or push on?
Understanding why shared experiences make travel unforgettable helps frame these conversations positively. You’re not negotiating; you’re building the foundation for a great adventure together.
Splitting costs and logistics
One of the biggest benefits of adventure travel with buddies is cost-sharing. Here’s how to handle it smoothly:
- Use apps like Splitwise to track who paid for what
- Split the cost of shared equipment (like camping stoves or satellite communicators)
- Hire a guide together: what’s expensive alone becomes reasonable split 3-4 ways
- Renting a car or hiring a private driver makes more sense with partners
For more money-saving strategies while traveling, check out our budget travel hacks guide.
Ready to find your adventure crew?
The best adventures are rarely solo endeavors. Whether you’re dreaming of diving the Great Barrier Reef, summiting Kilimanjaro, or tackling the Inca Trail, the right companions make the experience much better.
Post your planned activities on HitchHive and connect with travelers who share your appetite for adventure. Your future trail family, dive buddy, or surf crew is out there. You just haven’t met them yet.
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